SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— An international jury of sailing experts may be asked to settle a major dispute between two America’s Cup teams.

If a bid by New Zealand is successful, it could damage the chances that Sweden’s Artemis team could successfully compete in the competition.

After the Swedish team Artemis said they couldn’t sail in the Louis Vuitton competition until August (because they needed more practice time due to the capsizing of their first of two boats) teams from New Zealand and Italy proposed that races begin July 19th instead.

Team Artemis apparently said no. KCBS has now learned the New Zealanders believe Artemis didn’t have the right to say no and may protest before an international sailing jury, a kind of America’s Cup regulatory body.

“I don’t believe that to be that case at all. I believe that the teams are now very close to competition,” said America’s Cup CEO Stephen Barclay.

SAIL Magazine writer Kimball Livingston said if New Zealand is protesting Sweden’s decision it just adds further controversy to an already choppy cup effort.